Golf apparatus



Fes. V 23 1926. l l

f y E. L. BARNETT GOLF APPARATUS Filed Dec. 19 1924 wc mm 8.8.5@

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Patented Feb.' 23, 1926.

UNITED #STATES f .1,574,596 PATENT oFFicE.

EDWARD L.' BARNETT, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y,

- 4GOLF ArrAnArUs.

'applic-tica inea December 19,1924. semi No. 756,978.

To all 'whom it may concern# Be it known that I, EDWARD L. AnnE'r'r,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the oitypf New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of-,Newl 'York, have invent-ed a new and Improved Golf Apparatus, of which the following is a full', clear and exact description.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in golf apparatus and it pertains more particularly to means for practicing and playing 'the game of golf indoors.

It is' one of the primary objects of the.`

of any given shot on a regular Igolf course will be closely approximated and these values can be translated in terms ofyards.

It is a still further object of 'the invention to so construct the apparatus that in addition to the use thereof for determining the `value of the various strokes, the same may be'employed by two or morejco'm'peting persons for p aying-thel game of golf ina manner similar to that in'whichvthe game is 'played inthe open upon a golf coursev or links.

An additional object is to construct l an the values of any given shot on a regular golf course'may be secured including* what are commonly known as pulls or slices.'

With the above and other objects in view,

reference is had .to the accompanying drawin s, in whichigure l 1s a horizontal plan `sectional View of an apparatus constructed. in accord.

ance with the present invention.

VFigure 2 is a vertical sectional View thereof taken on the line 2-2- of. Figure 1.-

In -constructing indoor golf courses, it has been difficult heretofore-'toi simulate or approximate actual conditions o f a regular course. In the present invention, means have been presented which permits aplayer to act substantially as-if he were on a regular -on the regular golf course.

. course and cause the ball to also yact accordingly so that substantially true values will be be produced.r ln forming a structure to pro duce this result, retarding delecting surfaces have'been provided and arranged in suchv a4 `manner that the retardationof 'the ball is in proportion to the i power used so that the yballwill fall on/ a prepared bed of sand at a point proportionate to where it would fall on a regular` golf course. ln addition, the structure is such` that the strokes known as pulls or` slices are given their proper proportionate Avalues so that the player can readily see the results which he would secure'on a regular course.

"Referring to the drawings bynumerals, 5` designates a tee for su Iporting a golf ball, saidgolf ball being illustrated in dotted lines and designated by the reference char-4 acter- 6 in Figure 2. Upon opposite sides of the tee 5, are arranged mats 7 or the like upon which the player stands, said mats being 'so positioned with respect to the tee 5 that a `player standing upon either of said mats is in proper striking yposition with respect to the ball 6 carried by the tee 5. j

Slightly in advance of the tee 5 and the mat?, is a'deflector 9 as more clearly shown in Figure 2, which. Aunder certaincircumstances,`

co-actswith the deflector 10 shown directly:

above the s ame in Figure 2.

10- is supported by suitable standards '11 and .remains in the same position at all times. rI he defiector 9, however, is mounted on a Isuitable framework including uprights 11 f which 'carry casters l2 whereby the deflector 9 and the framework supporting the same -4 may be moved out olf theway whenever indoor or .miniature golf course where all' desired'. Both of the deflect/ors 9 and 10 are of comparatively thin material and may be made from metal, wood or any desired material. The deflectors are lmade in this manner in order to retard the ball by absorbing some ofthe power thereof and in this example, as sand, 'and is marked oif by beyond the dei means of tape, strings or the like 13, into a plurality of squares-14, all of which are' v-of the same dimensions.

Extending in a line with the tee 5, is a central aisle 15 of squares and it will be noted that there are ysaid central aisle 15.'

lthe same number of squares on each -side of At the rear end of this eld 8 there is a'vertical wall 16 and connected to the side edges of said wall 16 are side walls '17 of canvas, netting or similar material. As shown, these side walls extend in the direction of the tee to a point beyond the deiiector and ai'e secured to vertical standards 18 or the like. It will be noted that theiside walls 17 are so positioned as to 4define the side edges of the field 8 but this construction may be` altered so that said side walls will be spaced with respect to the side ed l from the spirit of the invention. y n

Secured to the rear wall 16 near the lower Y edge thereof is a pulley 19 and between the tee 5 and the deie'ctor9 there is a second pulley 20. Passing around these pulleys 19 and 20 4is an endless cord 21 and'mountedv in said endless cord 21 is a ball marker 22, the purpose of which will be hereinafter de- I scribed.

It will be noted that one of the squares in' the central aisle 15 is segregated from the others by means of a particular marking in order that this square may be particularlyl identified for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth. This square is designated in Figure 1 by the reference character`23 and said square is positioned a little beyondthe half-` way point between that end of the field nearest the tee and the rear wall 16.

At the top of Figure 1, which would be in actual practice the left-hand side of the apparatus, there are two. columns of figures 24 and 25. The column of figures 25 is adapted to designate yards and increases from left to right' live yards for each square from 105- 'to 180. The column 24e is adapted to designate yards, and it will be noted that said l column increases from right to left from is positionedon the tee 5 or contestant takes his`position upon either 190 lto 280 or more, at therate of ten yards per square. s At the lower side of Figure 1, which inl practice would be the .right-hand side of the apparatus and beginning lwith the sixth square from the rear wall 16,-isia column of figures 26 adapted to designate yards, the

figures of the column increasing vfive ya'rds foreach square reading from right, to left in Figure 1. x

The operation of the device as a practice apparatus is as follows: V

Assuming that the student desires to prac tice with a club known as a driver, the ball andthe student of the mats 7 The ball is then struckwith the club and is projected forwardly as designated by the dot-and-'dash'lines in Figure 2. In its forward travel the ball strikes the' deiiector 9, is diverted towards the upper deflector 10 and from the-nce against the back wall 16 and falls `into one of the squares.

ges of the field 8 without departingv of the field 8. Assuming now that the shot was a perfect one as regards direct-ion, the ball would settle in one of the squares of the central aisle 15. After the ball had settled, the student or v contestant would determine the distance of the shot by reading the larger number oppositel the central square in which the ball is at rest at the left-hand side of the ,playing-field and in the column designated by the reference character 24. For example, if the ball were .to` fall to rest in the squareA designated by the reference character 'X, it would indicate that a'straight drive of 230 yards had been made. The particular curve of the deflector 9 co-acts with the ball as. the saine strikesthe de'ector to cause theV ball to actin the same manner as itv would act o n a regular golf course, namely, it would take the same course. In order to accomplish this result, the delector 9 is made on a parabolic curve lwith the point .occupied by the ball 6 when resting on the tee 5. as the focus. By reason of this construction and the yielding action of the deflector 9,.the ball is retarded when it hits the deflector and- -is also causedto move ina straight'line or vcurvedto the side according to the particular stroke made. l

Assuming now that the student desires `to practice shots `with middle-distance clubs,

the delector 9 would 'be removed and the shots would be played directly against the rear wall 16 and would rebound into one of the squares of saidfleld and, as heretofore described, if theshot were a perfect one as regards direction, the ball would settle in one of the squares of the central aisle and its distance of travel would be deter-` ,mined in the same manner as heretofore described, except that the distance would be "read by the figures in the column designated 26. y

In using the short-distance clubs, such for example, as the mashie or niblick,7

thedeflector 9 is again placed in the position shown in Figure 2 and the ball played over the defle'ctor 9, which serves as a Vhazard over whichA the ball must bev elevated.

Whenfmaking these strokes, the `square heretofore mentioned and designated by the reference numeral 23, would be the objective point vto which the ball would, be

projected.' The position of the square in pared with the position of the square designated 23 and the accuracy, of the shot is thereby determined. v

which 'theball comes to rest is then coin- Cil from the proper A direction since a hole of four hundred yardson a regular` golf course could not ordinarily be made in one stroke.l After the stroke has been madeand the ball has come to rest, the position of the ballA is noted and. the contestant making the stroke is given credit' for the distance, providingthe ball comes to rest in the central aisle :15. If the ball comes to rest in the designated square 23, itwould --indicate that the drive was perfect in direction and that itA was a distance of two hundred and fifty yards. If, however, the ball was to drop in the square eitherl side of this designated square 23, that isabove or below in Figure l, a penalty of five yards would be deducted from the two hundred and fifty yards, said five yards being a penalty for the deviation from direction of a perfect shot. This same principle is carried out through all of the squares and if the ball' comes to rest two y squares removed from the central aisle, a

penalty of ten yards is imposed and so on, imposing a penalty of five yards for/each square removed from thecentral aisle. Each of the contestants makes his shot and is credited with the distance according to the position in the field 8 in which the ball comes to rest. y

Assuming now' that each contestant has equalled two hundred and fifty yards with his first shot, there would be remaining one hundred and fifty yards in a four hundred yardhole and this one hundred and fifty yards would have to bemade up in succeeding shots. The second shot is played exactly as the firstand thevalues determinedin the samemanner. If,"I on the second shot, the player' fell in the blockindicatin'g one hundred and fifty yards in the aisle '15, hisy play"y would be perfect. However, usuallyl thelball goes too far or falls short of this distance and also usually the vball falls eitherto-the right or left of Athe aisle 15.. After the proper penalty has been imposed as above described, he is permitted to take a third shot. In taking the third shot, if4 the indicated distance is between fifty yards and one hundred yards block, the defiector 9 is removed and the ball is played directly against the rearv wall 16. If the third shot does not advance the ball within one hundred yards to fifty yards of'l the putting A green,l additional shots are ymade .in the the third shot. When the' within twenty-five yards same"l manner as ballis played to to forty-five yards of the hole, the shotsare -made by playingover pitching directly intothe field 8.

It is to beunderstood that associated with l. l

the device is a putting green on whichl the final strokes'are played in order vthat eachplayer may hole out. This putting green 1s not shown 1n thedrawings since its construction forms no part of the present invention and may be of any type. After Vany stroke whenthe ball comes to rest within twenty yards, or in other words, four squares .fromy .the4 correct squareV in which the ball was intended to drop, the ball is transferred to the-putting green in order that theplayer may h ole'out. 'The position of the ball upon the putting green is determined by playing the from the hole of the putting green for each yardl the ball' is distant from the proper square' in the field 8. i i

In making, eachof -the short strokes, the

endless cord 21, together with its ball mark? er 22, is operated in order that the square which is the objective of the shot is marked.

bymoving the endless cord until the vmarker 22 thereof is positioned within such square. By the particular curvature of the deflector 9 and the association of the samevwith the other parts of vthe apparatus, proper values may be given to the strokes known as slice andpull and in this way the apparatus will, to a large extent, approximate a full size golf course. i

From the `foregoing it 1s apparent that the apparatus disclosed in' this application may be employed by two or more persons in playing a game practice apparatus, 'and that the apparatus provides means whereby the gaineof golf may be played in a relatively restricted area in the same manner as it is played on outdoor courses, with approximately true values obtained.

What I claim is:

1. In a golf apparatus, a field divided into spaces having predetermined values into which a ball is adapted to be projected, means for retarding lthe iiight of said ball, said Vmeans comprising oppositely facing deflecting and. retarding plates with which the ball contacts in its flight to said field.

2. In a golf apparatus, ap-field divided into a plurality of separate areas, each of which has a predetermined value and into which a missile is adapted to be projected, and a plurality of retarding deflector plates arranged in the path of said projected missile, said plates being positioned to function beforethe ball enters the field.

3. In a golf game apparatus, a field into the deflector and ball one foot of golf, as well as for a which 'a golf ball .is ada projected, and a pluralityv of retarding deflectors interposed in the line offlight of said golf ball, one of said deflectors being movable Withrespect to the other whereby it may be moved out of the line of flight of the golf ball.'

4. In an indoorgolf apparatus, a tee from Which a golf ball is adapted to be manually projected, a field divided into` a'plurality of separate areas of predetermined' Values, a rear Wall from which the golf ballis adapt ed to rebound when proj cted, and a plurality ofretarding tween the tee and said rear Wall.

5. In an indoor golf apparatus, a tee from which a 4golf ball isvadapted vto be manually projected, a field divided into a -plurality of separate areas ofpredetermined Values, arear Wall from which the golf `ball is adapted to rebound when projected, and-a plurality of delectors interted to oe manually deflectors interposed be' said rearwall bya direct shot.

6. Inan indoor golf course, a field, a rear- Wall arranged at one end of the field, a retarding deflector arranged at the other end of theiield, said 'retarding deflectorbeing formed with a curved face, a tee positioned in front of said curved face so that a ball projected from the tee toward the deflector Will strike said curved face and be deflected upwardly,a second defiector-arranged above the first mentioned deflector for changing the direction of the fly- Will strike against said on said field for indicating the value of the-y shot whenl the' ball comes i to rest on said field. Y i d j EDWARD LQ BARNETT.

of the ball so that it' rear Wall,.and means 

